Electric bicycle sales expected to climb to $10.8 billion in 2020

Electric bicycles are expected to generate $10.8 billion a year in worldwide revenue by 2020, up from $8.4 billion in 2013.

E-bicycles remain a small niche in North America. A new report by analysis firm Navigant Research credits Asian and European countries for sustaining the market so far.

Projected sales in China this year are about 28 million, 92% of the total world market. According to the report, growth of that country’s market is expected to slow because of a weakened economy, manufacturer consolidation and some supply-chain issues in lead-acid batteries. Excluding China, global sales are expected to reach 4 million in 2020, up from around 2.6 million this year. Read more...

awarded by State Senator

The owners of Electric Bikes LA in El Segundo—former Mayor Eric Busch and his wife, Andrea—were honored Tuesday by South Bay State Senator Ted Lieu.

Their shop on Main Street was named 2013 Business of the Year in Lieu's 28th District, which includes the South Bay beach cities, Carson, Lomita, Torrance and part of the Harbor Area.

"Electric Bikes LA is the first store in the Los Angeles area solely dedicated to the sale and repair of electric and folding bikes," Lieu said. "As the popularity of electric bikes continues to grow, Eric and Andrea are raising awareness and inspiring people to get out of their cars." See Press Release and article in Daily Breeze.

by Jennifer Evans

Not everyone wants to participate in a rideshare program or can afford to go out and buy a new electric car but with the help of a new El Segundo business, it is possible to travel from point “A” to “B” taking a greener route.

Located in the heart of El Segundo’s downtown businesses, Electric Bikes LA has become the go-to place for people of all ages to purchase two-wheel transportation that allows for exercise as well as efficiency. Owned and operated by Andrea and Eric Busch, the couple felt a little awkward promoting the idea of living greener when Eric Busch, who is the manager of environmental affairs at his company, drove a gas guzzler to work every day.

“I decided in April 2008 that I wanted to find a more eco-friendly way of driving to work,” said Busch, who also happens to be El Segundo’s mayor.

Busch tried an electric scooter but determined it was too wobbly for him so after doing some research he and his wife purchased an eZee electric bike online. He explained that the bikes were only sold in New York and Seattle but couldn’t find a store in the area or surrounding areas that sold them. “Once we got the bikes and starting riding them, we realized that everyone and their brother enjoyed using them, so we started talking about opening a shop here in town,” Busch said.

Within three months of ordering their own bike online, the Busch family opened their electric bike business and despite the declining economy they have successfully survived and thrived as one of the only electric bike shops in the area.

The eZee electric bike is the store’s main attraction with several styles ranging from the eZee Chopper, which features a compact design, to the eZee Cadence, a more laid-back cruiser-style bike.

The bikes can travel at a speed of 20 mph on a flat surface and at about 16 mph uphill depending on the weight of the passenger. There is an option with all bikes to operate purely electric or purely manual or a little of both.

“I ride my bike to work more than 50 percent of the time,” Busch said. “It’s a great down time for me, I call it my Zen time.”

Busch said it takes about 37 minutes in the morning and 42 minutes for his ride home. “Which is not much longer than when I drive, considering I have to deal with traffic and parking.”

Encouraging others at his work and in town to do the same, Busch has successfully convinced others to use the power of the peddle rather than the power of petrol to get to work.

“We have a customer who decided to give up his car completely, and rides his electric bike to and from Santa Monica every day to work. He said the bike has changed his life,” Busch said.

Ranging in price from $1,500 to $2,500, the electric bikes have a 350-watt motor and can ride up to 42 miles (with little peddling) before needing a charge. “Our bikes have the best battery technology, we use lithium batteries,” Busch said. “We sell the highest quality bikes on the market and, honestly, when it comes to electric bikes, it does make a difference if you have the latest and greatest bike.”

Besides the bikes, the store also sells electric scooters and skateboards as well as accessories.

“Besides riding my bike to work, we ride the bikes together as a family, it’s really a lot of fun,” Busch said. “Andrea and I couldn’t be happier about the choice we made to buy the bikes ourselves and then open this shop.”

For more information, call (310) 640-2453 or visit www.electricbikesla .com or visit the store located at 221 Main St. in El Segundo.

The new LA store is off to an impressive start. Not surprisingly considering the competence and community involvement by residents Andrea & Eric Busch. See full article at dailybreeze.com.

From article: "Six months after switching to an electric bicycle for his daily commute, Eric Busch has saved hundreds of dollars in gas for his guzzling SUV, shaved three minutes off his morning drive and dropped a pants size.

A second-term El Segundo city councilman, Busch was so taken with his new toy that he and wife, Andrea, have opened their own electric bicycle store, likely the first in the region, in El Segundo's quaint downtown.

'We're just so happy to introduce these to the South Bay,' Andrea Busch said as she made final preparations for Electric Bikes LA's grand opening Friday.

Inside the tiny Main Street shop, a tall countertop was still damp with fresh paint and the computer network was on the fritz, but the Buschs were ready for business.

A phalanx of shiny bikes ranging in cost from $1,500 to $2,200 stood at attention inside the small showroom.

Helmets of all shapes and sizes, detachable bicycle bags and other accessories lined the shop's bright blue, mirror-accented walls.